Shock therapy half-worked: West Ham avoid defeat at Everton

Nuno Espirito Santo decided not to wait for another opportunity in the Premier League, he decided to take the first one which comes along. Just 18 days after Nottingham sacking, the Portuguese coach accepted a position in West Ham, who are not only in a result crisis but face huge fans protests against club owners. Still, Santo thinks he can turn things around and in the very first game he made an effort – for a start his new club didn’t lose, they even became the first team in the league to score against Toffies at their new Hill Dickinson Stadium: Everton – West Ham 1-1.

This result is mainly the consequence of the home team’s inability to convert a number of solid chances into the goal. Everton attacked, had much more touches in the opponents box but either missed the goal completely or managed to hit West Ham’s keeper. On the other side West Ham again looked pale and weak offensively and only the young Crysencio Summerville really made an effort, but they used their second change of the game and captain Bowen was there when it was needed and gave his teammates much needed point.

Until Keane scored in the 18th minute, we saw two nice opportunities for both sides, but both Ndiaye and Beto managed only to hit the ball straight at Areola. On the other side Summerville had a shot blocked and when he tried to assist Fullkrug, Pickford was there. And then Keane gave the Toffies after a cross from Garner. Dewsbury-Hall was unmarked in the penalty area in the 35th minute and had to score, but he only managed a shot well wide. And while the first half was not so interesting, it was bursting in the second part of the game.

The home team had a clear advantage and pushed forward but didn’t create clear chances and didn’t have the quality enough players to finish those half chances. For example, Beto missed the ball after a good cross, and Gueye took a shot over the bar from close range. Everton are a team which scored the joint-most goals between the 46th and 60th minute in the Premier League this season. But this time, they failed to convert those chances and West Ham, who basically showed nothing until the 65th minute equalizer from the second chance. The first one came after O’Brien headed the ball back to Pickford not realizing that Summerville was lurking. West Ham winger took a shot but England’s keeper instinctively saved his goal. But minutes later he couldn’t do anything. El Hadji Diouf made a terrific run from the left and lashed the ball into the penalty area. Keane made a clearance but the ball came to Bowen who took a shot and with a help from Keane scored an equalizer. West Ham captain had another opportunity as well as Summerville little later, but in both cases Everton defense came up on top. The home team tried to get to the second goal but never had that attacking momentum from the first half back, and score remained the same.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 6

Saturday

Brentford - Man. United 3-1 (2-1)

/Thiago 8, 20, Jensen 90+5 - Sesko 26/

Chelsea - Brighton 1-3 (1-0)

/Fernandez 24 - Welbeck 77, 90+10 De Cuyper 90+2/

Crystal Palace - Liverpool 2-1 (1-0)

/Sarr 9, Nketiah 90+7 - Chiesa 87/

Leeds - Bournemouth 2-2 (1-1)

/Rodon 37, Longstaff 54 - Semenyo 26, Kroupi 90+3/

Man. City - Burnley 5-1 (1-1)

/Esteve 12 (og), 65 (og), Nunes 61, Haaland 90, 90+3 - Anthony 38/

Nott.Forest - Sunderland 0-1 (0-1)

/Alderete 38/

Tottenham - Wolverhampton 1-1 (0-0)

/Palhinha 90+4 - Bueno 54/

Sunday

Aston Villa - Fulham 3-1 (1-1)

/Watkins 37, McGinn 49, Buendia 51 - Jimenez 3/

Newcastle - Arsenal 1-2 (1-0)

/Woltemade 34 - Merino 84, Gabriel 90+6/

Monday

Everton - West Ham 1-1 (0-1)

/Keane 18 - Bowen 65/